Rebuilding Britain eBook

It is obviously impossible to treat of all the questions
in the long list given above, and also impossible
to deal with any of them completely. All that
can be done is to give a general idea of the kind
of thing that is wanted; then to select a few subjects
as furnishing rather fuller indications of possible
lines of action; and then—­just as examples—­work
out one or two in more detail.

Two subjects, namely, Housing and Agricultural Development,
must be selected, because their vital importance demands
attention from all who care about the welfare of the
nation. Another subject, namely, Law Reform,
is selected because it is comparatively easy to say
what ought to be done and to frame Acts embodying
the required reforms.

CHAPTER XIX

HOUSING

Owing to house shortage in Sheffield,
two wooden pigsties are being inhabited, one
by a man and his wife and two children, and the
other by a man and his wife. Both men are
discharged soldiers.—­DAILY PAPER.

There will be no rest, and should be none, until every
industrious man or woman who wishes to have a real
home can have one, where everyone who has children
can bring them up under conditions where decency can
be maintained and healthy life be possible. It
is a question of urgency in rural as well as in urban
districts, in the most remote places equally with
the great cities. In this matter it is no case
of having to create or stimulate a desire for improvement.
The demand has existed for years, but after the War
will be more imperative than ever. Somehow or
other it must be supplied more fully. Attempts
have been made again and again to deal with the question.
Its importance is recognised and special inquiries
are now being made as to the best means to be adopted.
It is stated that at the present time half a million
additional houses for working people are required,
and that 100,000 more should be provided annually
to meet the normal increase of population and to replace
houses which have to be demolished.

It will be necessary to consider, first, the provision
to be made to meet the existing shortage of house
accommodation both in urban and rural districts.
At present a large portion of the population cannot
find a home or even any kind of accommodation that
affords reasonable comfort and decency. Since
the War, in some places, such as Barrow, the conditions
have been absolutely intolerable, and when those who
are engaged in the army abroad return, the state of
things in some districts may be worse. The President
of the Local Government Board recently stated that
1,103 local authorities in England and Wales had reported
that houses for the working classes were required in
their areas, and that the number of houses they needed
probably exceeded 300,000. As above stated, the
total requirement is much greater. The deficiency
of accommodation has been one of the prime causes